SOUTHERN
PINES, N.C., May 14, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- First Bancorp and First Bank, the wholly owned
subsidiary of First Bancorp (NASDAQ – FBNC) (collectively, the
"Bank"), are pleased to announce the expansion of its executive
leadership team in order to enhance the execution of its long-term
strategic plan. Effective May 13,
2024, Christian Wilson was
named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the
Bank, reporting to Adam Currie,
President of First Bank. Wilson has most recently spent 10 years
with Fiserv in New York City
overseeing Credit, Fraud and Risk, both on a national
and global scale. Prior to his time at Fiserv, he served as a team
leader of the Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force.
Christian has expert knowledge in operations and strategy across
cyber, controls, regulatory review, credit management and
fraud functions within financial services. He is a
Guilford County, N.C. native and
was a Park Scholar at N.C. State University and will office in
Greensboro.
Donna Ward has assumed the new
position of Chief Transformation Officer of First Bank as of
May 13, 2024. Donna will be focused
specifically on change leadership and project management preparing
the Bank and associates for enterprise-wide organizational changes
that will accompany continued growth. Having been with First Bank
over 27 years, Donna has witnessed significant change and has a
strong reputation as a change leader and advocate through
acquisitions and systems integrations and conversions.
In addition, on May 13, 2024,
Brent Hicks joined the Bank as
Executive Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer ("CAO"),
reporting to Elizabeth Bostian,
Chief Financial Officer, and will also office in Greensboro. Brent's expertise as an audit and
risk expert in Finance at BB&T/Truist, as well as in the Chief
Accounting Officer role at a $26
billion bank will align directly with the expertise needed
as the Bank expands. Effective with Brent's joining the Bank,
Blaise Buczkowski will shift from
CAO responsibilities to the role of Executive Vice President of
Corporate Finance, leading the financial analysis, forecasting,
integration and planning functions for the Bank. While Blaise has
been performing many of these functions since joining the Bank in
2017, she will now be focused on building a comprehensive financial
view of the company that will leverage financial data for strategic
planning and informed decision-making.
"We are very excited to have Christian and Brent join our
organization, and for the opportunities to leverage the expertise
of both Donna and Blaise as they assume new responsibilities.
Integrating and aligning talent in these key areas of the Bank is
exactly what we need as we continue to grow and navigate change.
Our commitment to excellence applies as much to the internal
working of First Bank as
it does to our external service delivery. These changes reflect
that commitment as we continue to prepare our company to embrace
the future and bring value to our customers, associates and
stakeholders," said Mike Mayer,
First Bancorp President and First Bank Chief Executive Officer.
With accolades in 2023 that include being named a Best Employer
by Business NC Magazine, as one of the Top 10 Best Performing Banks
by S&P Global, and to the KBW Annual Bank Honor Roll, among
others, First Bank is focused on continuing its strong legacy with
these strategic leadership changes. You can learn more about
First Bank at localfirstbank.com.
About us:
First Bancorp is a bank holding company headquartered in
Southern Pines, North Carolina,
with total assets of $12.1 billion. Its principal activity is the
ownership and operation of First Bank, a state-chartered community
bank that operates 113 branches in North
Carolina and South Carolina. Since 1935, First Bank
has taken a tailored approach to banking, combining best-in-class
financial solutions, helpful local expertise, and technology to
manage a home or business. First Bank also provides SBA loans
to customers through its nationwide network of lenders.
Please visit our website at www.LocalFirstBank.com for more
information.
First Bancorp's common stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global
Select Market under the symbol "FBNC." Member FDIC, Equal Housing
Lender.
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SOURCE First Bancorp